SHAHEED KARTAR SINGH SARABHA AYURVEDIC MEDICAL COLLEGE & HOSPITAL

palasah

Botanical Name : Butea monosperma 

Family : Papilionaceae; Fabaceae 

Introduction :

It is the most important plants for the Yajna. Its gum (red coloured) is also described in vedic texts. it used in the management of Arsas, Atisãra, Raktapitta, Kustha, Raktaja Gulma etc.

The flame tree belongs to the subfamily Caesalpinioideae, family Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae).

The Chinese flame tree belongs to the Sapindaceae family and is classified as Koelreuteria bipinnata.

Names in different Indian languages :

English : Flame of the Forest,Butea Gum, Bengal Kino,bastard teak

Hindi : Dhak,palash

Kannada : muttagamara

Malayalam : Plasu,chamata

Sanskrit : palasah

Tamil : Camata,purasus

Telugu : moduga

Unani : Dhaak,Samagh Dhaak,Kamarkas

Folk : Tesu

Synonyms :

Kimsuka, Ksãrarestha, Brahmopanetra, Rakta puspa, Samidvara, Brahma Vrksa, Vãtapotha, Triparni  , Paalasha, Kimshuka, Raktapushpaka, Kshaarshreshtha, Brahmavriksha, Samidvar.

B. frondosa Koenig ex Roxb.

Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata :

Susrutha : Rodhrãdi, Muskakãdi, Ambasthãdi, Nyagrodhãdi

Vagbhata : Rodhrãdi, Muskakãdi, Ambasthãdi, Nyagrodhãdi

Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants) :

1. Latapalsa – B. superb Roxb

2. Rakta (red),

3. Pita (yellow)

 4. Sveta (white)

5. Neela (blue).

Morphology :

A deciduous tree growing up to 15 m. height and 1.5-2 m in girth, trunk is crooked. Bark light-brown or bluish-grey, yielding a ruby-red vitreous gum(Butea gum or Bengal keno) Wood-white or yellow-brown.

Leaves trifoliolate, large, unequal, 10.5-20.5 cm.

Flowers- in racemes, brilliant orange-red, 4-6 cm. long; lower calyx-teeth deltoid.

Fruits- pods, silvery-white, broad, dehiscent (by one suture).

seeds- flat, elliptic, reddish-grey, 3 cm.

Distribution & Habitat :

Throughout India

Chemical constituents :

butin, butrin, isobutrin, palastrin, butrin, coreopsin, monospermoside , sulphurein, chalcones.

Flowers— butin, isocorcopsin, monospermoide, butein (major glucoside), isomonospermoside, coreopsin, palasitrin.

Roots— Glycine, Jalaric esters I, II, III & IV etc

Gum— leucocyanidin, procyanidin etc.

Seeds— monaspermin, palasonin, essential oil with myristic, palmitic acids etc.

Properties :

Rasa- Katu, Tikta, Kasaya

Guna -Laghu, Snigdha

Virya – Usna

Vipaka – Katu

Karma : Vãta-kapha hara, Grãhi, Krmighna, Dipana

Bark—astringent, styptic (prescribed in bleeding piles, ulcers, haemorrhages, menstrual disorders), anthelmintic.

Flowers—astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue (also given for leucorrhoea). A decoction of flowers is given in diarrhoea and haematuria, also to puerperal women.

Seeds—clinical use of seeds as an anthelmintic drug is not considered safe in humans

Indication :

Krimi, Pliha roga, Gulma, Grahani, Arsaas. astringent, bleeding piles, ulcers, haemorrhages (menstrual disorders), anthelmintic.  diuretic, emmenagogue (also given for leucorrhoea).Antibacterial,antifungal

Part used :

stem bark, flowers, seeds, gum , ash

Dosage :

Bark decoction 50-100 ml, seed powder 5-8 g, flower powder 5-6 g, gum 2-4 g

Important Yogas  or  Formulations :

Krmimudgararas, Palãgaksãra taila   

Therapeutic Uses :

1. Slipada-Juice of Palãsa root and equal quantity of Sarsapa are given with oil (V.M). .

2. Krimi- Seed paste or juice of Palãsa may be taken with butter milk (S.S.Ut.54)

3. Pumsavana- The pregnant lady (2-3 months after conception) may be given paste of one palasa leave with milk (B. P).

 

Botanical Name : Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

Family : Oleaceae; Nyctanthaceae   

 Introduction :

Latin name: Nydanthus (Nyct = night; anthus = flowering (night flowering); arbortristis = (Arbor )

tristis = weeping, gloomy, flowers dropping like tears).

Red stalks of flowers are cut, dried in the sun end stored to be usedfor dying clothes and as a colouring agent for sweets and other eatables. Poets in India have compared the tips of beautiful women to the flowers of this tree

Names in different Indian languages :

English : Tree of Sorrow,Night Jasmine,Coral Jasmine

Hindi : Harsimgar,parja

Kannada : Parijata

Malayalam : Pavilamalli,parijatham

Sanskrit : Paarijaata

Tamil : Pavazha mattigai

Telugu : pavilamalligai

Unani : Harasingaar,swetasarasa

Synonyms :

Paarijaata, Shephaali, Shephaalikaa, Mandaara

Morphology :

A tree of 3 – 10 mtrs height.

Leaves – simple, opposite,  facing forwards, 10 to 12.5 cm long. 5 to 6.25 cm broad, rough. Upper surface is green and the lower surface is white. Petals are yellowish red and very attractive in appearance. Therefore it is compared to the lips of a young lady.

Flowers –  white, fragrant and delicate, flowers bloom in the night and fall off in the morning on the ground below the tree. Ovary is flat, bilobular with two seeds. (Children play with these seeds and call them as coins).

Distribution & Habitat :

All over India

Chemical constituents :

Iridoid glycosides, mannitol, beta-amyrin, beta-sitosterol, hentriacontane, benzoic acid, astragalin, nicotiflorin, oleanolic acid, nyctanthic acid, friedelin and lupeol.

Properties :

RASA- tikta

GUNA- laghu. ruksha

VIRYA-ushna

VIPAKA-katu

Karma :

bitter tonic, cholagogue, febrifuge, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, hypotensive, respiratory stimulant, laxative, diuretic

Indication :

fevers, gout, sciatica, pruritus, cough, asthma

Part used :

Leaves, flower, seed, bark

Dosage :

2-4 g

Internal uses :

Seeds are used as antihelminthics and in alopecia. Rough leaves are used for scrapping the margins of wounds. Leaf juice is used in loss of appetite, piles, liver disorders, biliary disorders and intestinal worms. Powder prepared from leaves or bark is given in cough and asthma. Also useful in dysuria, chronic fever and snake poisoning.

Therapeutic Uses :

Decoction of leaves is very useful in fever with rigors